Call of Duty 2027 Reportedly Ditches the Nostalgia Trip For A ‘Modern’ Setting, And I Am Already Tired
Just when I thought we were done with the "he said, she said" drama of Call of Duty leaks, the insiders have decided to start a civil war over a game that doesn't even exist yet.
If you have been following the breadcrumbs for Sledgehammer Games' 2027 title, you probably heard the rumors that it was going to be a throwback to the late 90s or early 2000sessentially filling the gap between the Cold War and the War on Terror. It sounded promising. It sounded different. Naturally, that means it was probably wrong.
The Clash of the Insiders
The latest update comes from CharlieIntel, the outlet that effectively acts as the unofficial press secretary for Activision. They came out swinging to debunk a claim by leaker GhostOfHope, who originally posited the 90s/00s setting. According to CharlieIntel and their sources, the 2027 title is actually going to be a new sub-franchise set in the modern era.
This is significant for two reasons. First, it implies that Sledgehammer is finally being allowed to build something of their own rather than just cleaning up Infinity Ward's messes or making World War II games nobody asked for. Second, it means we are likely getting another game featuring tactical vests, drones, and red dot sights.
I have to be honest: the phrase "Modern Era" triggers a stress response in me these days. After the absolute saturation of the Modern Warfare reboot trilogy, I was kind of hoping for something, anything, else.
Sledgehammer Steps Up
What makes this situation funnier is that Sledgehammer Games seems to be actively leaking corrections to control the narrative. Usually, studios stay silent and let the rumor mill burn itself out. But after the recent chaos at Infinity Ward over Modern Warfare 4 rumors, it looks like SHG wants to nip false expectations in the bud.
They want us to know, specifically, that this is a "new sub-franchise." That is marketing speak for "please don't judge this based on the last three games."
The Ghost of the 'Black Ops 7' Disaster
It is hard to muster up hype for a 2027 game when the franchise is currently burning down around us. We are still wading through the radioactive fallout of Black Ops 7, a game that will likely go down in history as the "80 Euro AI Slop Edition."
If you missed it (lucky you), the community is still reeling from the revelation that Activision used generative AI to cut corners on calling card assets and dialogue in the last entry. It was a PR nightmare that made the Cyberpunk 2077 launch look like a perfectly executed ballet. The fact that they charged a premium price point for what felt like a prompt-generated beta test has soured the milk so bad I don't know if I'll ever drink it again.
So, when I hear that Sledgehammer is making a "new modern franchise," my immediate thought isn't "Ooh, cool gadgets." It is: "Are actual humans making this one?"
A Healthy Dose of Skepticism
For now, the safe bet is to listen to CharlieIntel. They rarely miss when it comes to the broad strokes of franchise direction. So, rip up your dreams of a Y2K-era shooter and prepare for more modern combat.
I want to be excited. I really do. Sledgehammer has made some solid gunplay mechanics in the past when given the time. But until I see a trailer that proves this isn't just another asset flip designed to sell skins in Warzone, I am keeping my wallet welded shut.